Condolence receptacle



Patented Jan. 30, 1940 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDOLENCE RECEPTACLE' Raymond H. Saviteer, Meriden, Conn. Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,843

z'oiaims. (01. 72-12) This invention relates to condolence receptacles, and more particularly to'the provision of a stone" or marker for a cemetery lot having therein a receptacle which may be sealed or 5 closed and locked, but which is provided with a slot communicating with the receptacle through which letters, cards, money, or other objects may be inserted' 1 In many instances graves are visited by friends 10 orrelatives of the family of the deceasedp'erson when members of the family are not present. In such'cases visitors often desire to advise the family that the visit has been made; as by leaving a card, for example, or in other instances 15 Wish to make gifts to the family, such as leaving money for the purchase of flowers, or for the holding of'a mass for thedeceased. At the present time there is no way that this can be done, and it is contemplated by the present invention 20 either to provide a separate stone or marker which may be placed upon a cemetery lot and provided with a receptacle which may be covered and locked, and in which cards, letters or money may be inserted, or to provide for such 25 a receptacle in the monument or stone which serves as the tombstone.

One object of the'present invention is to provide a stone or marker for a cemeterylot which is adapted to be placed upon the lot, and which 30 will be provided with a receptacle for depositing of small objects desired to be inserted therein.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a receptacle which may be mounted upon a cemetery lot and which receptacle will 35 be provided with a cover to prevent the entrance of moisture or rain therein, and whichmay be locked in place, and which receptacle will also be provided with a slot through a wall thereof communicating with the interior of the recep- 40 tacle, so that objects may be inserted therein without removal of the cover.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

45 In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a marker or receptacle embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover of the 50 receptacle;

Fig. 4 is a view of the receptacle itself comprised by the marker; and

Fig. 5 is a front view partly in section of a tombstone or monumet embodying my inven- 5 tion.

In Figs. 1 to 4 ofthe accompanying drawing, I have illustrated as an embodiment of my invention a receptacle or lot marker which in this instance comprises a body I more or less in the form of a rectangular post or shaft. The crosssectional shape of the receptacle and the dimensions thereof are not of the essence of the invention, but the length of the device will usually be sumcient so that the lower portion may be buried in the ground, while the upper portion 10 will project from the surfaceof the ground.

Adjacentits upper end the body portion is hollow, as shown at H, so. as to provide a depository for articles which may be inserted therein through the slot l2. It will be noted from Fig; 2. that the slot 12 is inclined inwardly and. upwardly soas to prevent any likelihood: of rain driving therein, whereby any articles inserted through the slot I2 will be kept dry. It will be understood that the body portion ID of the receptacle may be made of any suitable material. It may, for instance, be of granite, or of any suitable artificial ornamentalstone or masonry of any character. It will, of course, be preferred to constructit of ornamental material.

In order that the depository l I may be protected against the elements and also in order that the articles therein may not be removed by an unauthorized person, a cover is provided which may be locked in place. The cover, as shown, consists of a slab-like portion l3 adapted to project over the edges I4 of the receptacle, so that the proper portion of the latter will be completely covered and prevent the entrance of rain and snow thereinto. The cover is likewise pro- .vided upon its under side with .a fiat portion l5 which projects into the hollow part II, and will fit fairly snugly therewithin so that the cover may not be moved from side to side. Attached to the part i5 and depending downwardly therefrom are a pair offlanges I6 and I! provided with openings l8 and I9. When the cover is in place these openings are adapted to register with openings 20 and 2! through the side wall of the body ll] of the receptacle, so that the cover may be locked in place by the insertion through the openings of a bolt 22.

.This bolt may be provided at one end with a head 23 to abut the outer wall of the receptacle [0, and may be provided at its other end with an opening or eye 24 adapted to receive the hasp 25 of a padlock 2B. In this manner the bolt 22 will be securely locked against removal, and as it passes through the openings I8 and IQ of the flanges 16 and I! of the cover, it will obviously prevent removal of the cover by anyone except a person provided with the key to the padlock 26.

It will be apparent that I have provided a receptacle or marker which may be placed in position upon a. cemetery lot, and visitors to the lot may insert cards, letters or money through the slot [2 into the hollow portion II, in which depository theobjects will be safe from removal except by a person with the proper key. The receptacle Ill may be ornamental in character, and may serve as the marker for the grave or lot, or it may merely serve as a receptacle for the purpose described, and be placed upon the lot in addition to the ordinary tombstone or marker. It will also be apparent that the construction of the receptacle is such as to prevent the entrance of rain or snow, so that any objects which are inserted in the receptacle will be kept dry until removed.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have shown my invention as applied to a tombstone or monument such as is commonly used in. connection with cemetery lots. As shown; the stone comprises a base 21 and die 28. In this instance the receptacle is shown at 29, located at one side of the base, and it will usually and preferably be formed integrally with the base when so located.

The interior of the receptacleis hollow, as shown at 3@, and the upwardly facing opening of the chamber or depository is closed by the cover 3!. On its lower face the cover is provided with a part 32 projecting into the receptacle, and snugly fitting the walls of the hollow portion thereof, and with depending flanges 33 provided with openings 34, so thatthe cover may be locked inplace, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

On the other side of the base there may be provided a second receptacle 35, or this may merely be a dummy so as to balance the appearance of the monument.

It will, of course, be understood that the receptacle may be mounted on any desired portion of the stone or monument, and in case of a monument without a base, which is called a monolithic stone, it may be provided on the side or end portion thereof, as desired.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and-within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A grave stone or marker of lithic material, said stone having a solid portion and a hollow portion providing an internal receptacle, said receptacle having an upwardly facing opening, a cover for said opening, means for releasably securing said cover in place to protect the contents of the receptacle, and a slot opening into the receptacle through a side wall thereof, a portion of said stone being adapted to stand above the surface of the ground, and said slot being provided in such portion.

2. A grave stone or marker having a solid portion and a hollow portion providing a receptacle opening upwardly through the top thereof, said latter portion standing above the ground, a cover for said opening designed to overlie the side walls of the receptacle, means for locking said cover in place, and a laterally opening slot communie cating with the receptacle through one of said side walls.

RAYMOND H. SAVITEER. 

